Welcome all to the Getting Ready for Throne of Eldraine series, where today I’m going to be continuing a 7-part series on what current Standard cards from the four non-rotating sets (Guild of Ravnica, Ravnica Allegiance, War of the Spark, and Core Set 2020) will see more play or less play.
If you missed my talk on post-rotation cards from other colours you can find that right here:
White - Looking at post-rotation White cards
Blue - Looking at post-rotation Blue cards
Black - Looking at post-rotation Black cards
I’ll be dividing some key cards from each color into three categories:
- Moving on Up
- Staying Level
- On the Decline
Today I’m going to be talking about Red cards, let’s see how they stack up once Throne of Eldraine comes into Standard in October.
On the Decline
Arclight Phoenix – To be clear, this is in Standard. Although Crackling Drake is still on the scene, I don’t think there will be enough impact spells to be able to play this until a few more sets come out, so I expect there not to be a deck playing these for the first few months.
Cavalcade of Calamity – With card like Fanatical Firebrand and other 1 power creatures leaving Standard, don’t expect this to be played this October.
Light Up the Stage – I think there will be less Mono Red Aggro decks, so to start this card will see a drop off in play. There are better options to use in the mid-to-late game if you are looking for card advantage in red.
Marauding Raptor – With plenty of Dinosaurs becoming extinct thanks to rotation, this card should stop showing up in any decks come this fall.
Staying Level
Cavalier of Flame – I think there is an outside chance this could start to see play, but I think it will stay on the sidelines for now, which is where it currently is.
Chandra, Fire Artisan – There will still be a deck that can find a use for this card, it just might move from an Aggro deck to a mid-range deck.
Dreadhorde Arcanist – I still think there is a possibility of a Feather deck in Standard, and this goes hand in hand with the spells in the deck. The deck is losing 2 of its best 1-drop spells so we will have to see what Throne of Eldraine has, to support this deck.
Experimental Frenzy – Although as you’ve noticed I feel there will be less Aggro decks in the format, I still think some deck, somewhere, will find a place for this card. There is just too much value to not use it.
Legion Warboss – Going wide strategies will start to become popular and this card will help you go wide and overtake those pesky control decks with their trusty planeswalkers.
Sarkhan the Masterless – Jeskai Planeswalker decks will still be a thing post-rotation and Throne of Eldraine could provide some new friends for Sarkhan to play with.
Moving On Up
Chandra, Awakened Inferno – I think with Standard slowing down and perhaps maybe more Control decks hitting the format, this planeswalker could start to see more play. Bring on the Grixis Control decks with this card and other planeswalkers like Liliana, Dreadhorde General.
Direct Current – With the loss of Lightning Strike, some decks could require an additional burn card, and this could fit into that slot if Throne of Eldraine doesn’t have anything better to bring to the table.
Electrodominance – I am looking for this card to see play in a control deck. It has some great potential and a way to finish off your opponent when they least expect it.
Risk Factor – I believe that this will become a better card in the mid-to-late game than a card like Light up the Stage. With game going longer, this card becomes better.
Will these new Red cards start to shine in Standard? Time will tell, but I’m excited to see if they will see more of an impact in the format. Thanks again for reading the Getting Ready for Throne of Eldraine series, and join me next time as I investigate which Green cards will start to see some play!
